Funeral services for Merle Hopper Ballard, 93, of Ada will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Travis Muse will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
Merle passed away Sunday, February 7, 2016 at her home. She was born April 10, 1922 in Leslie, AR to Roy H. and Bertha Jones Hopper. At an early age the family moved to Oklahoma and her first nine and one-half years of schooling was in Garvin County. In 1936, the family moved to Ada, where she graduated from Ada High School in 1938 and received her degree from East Central College in 1942.
She married E. E. (Eddy) Ballard on December 22, 1941 in Gulfport, MS, where Eddy was attending a training course in the Army Air Corps.
Following graduation and post graduate work in accounting, Merle worked for Service Chevrolet and Ken Brady Motor Companies in Ada. In 1950, she went to work as a temporary employee of Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Ada. In 1983, having completed 32 years with Home Federal, she retired as Vice President/Comptroller of a company that had grown from 2 million to 63 million.
Attending Asbury United Methodist Church since 1936, Merle served in many capacities ranging from Sunday School Teacher to being a long time member of the Official Board, Parsonage Committee and Trustee. In addition, she helped spearhead numerous financial drives toward reaching various goals.
After retiring in 1983, Merle and her husband enjoyed extensive traveling and a close and joyful relationship with family and friends.
She is survived by a daughter, Charlotte A. Platt and her husband David; a son, John Thomas Ballard; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddy Ballard; and a son, Claude Edward Ballard.
Bearers will be David Earl Platt, Dick Hopper, Andy Hopper, Bill Ballard, Alan Arbabi and Jimmy Don Park.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Asbury United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 2342, Ada, OK 74821.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
